Three friends of the University of Hawai‘i received Japanese Imperial Decorations in 2012, and were honored at the January 2013 New Year’s Luncheon of the United Japanese Society of Hawai‘i. Jean Ariyoshi, former first lady of the State of Hawai‘i, is a leader in Chadō, the way of tea, and is the head of the Urasenke Yushinkai in Hawai‘i. Robert Nakasone is a supporter of Okinawan studies and special exchanges with Okinawa at the East-West Center and at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Reverend Yoshiaki Fujitani, 11th Bishop of the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, fosters education about Buddhism together with the UHM Religion Department in the Buddhist Studies Center.